When We Try It

As painters we have 2 main roles we are responsible for on every job: 1. Putting paint onto areas that are supposed to be painted. 2. Keeping paint off of areas that are not supposed to be painted. Almost everything we do from the time we set foot on a job until the time we […]

Airless sprayers are the perfect tool for high production needs. They are often used in large scale commercial painting and for good reason. They will allow you to paint a large building in less time. While they are a great resource for commercial painting, they are often a large expense and it is critical that […]

Where to Begin? Getting started in concrete coatings can be somewhat daunting, especially when considering the price of a floor grinder and vacuum system that can run $7,000 – $12,000. If you are just starting out in concrete coatings, this startup expense can be a turn off. Thankfully, there are systems out there that will […]

Recently I had a small faux finishing job that I thought the Kleen Edge tape would work perfectly for. Many of the houses in my area were not primed when new, and in most cases when regular blue tape is applied to the walls it will pull off the paint. On this particular job I had […]

What are the most commonly used methods? Surface preparation is the single most important stage when executing an epoxy flooring project. Poor surface preparation can lead to significant problems such as the coating cracking, or detaching itself from the substrate. These problems may not appear straight away, but could show up after a few months. […]

Industrial surfaces are painted to protect from corrosion, abrasion, rust, and other elements that can affect life of the painted surface. Industrial surfaces or equipment generally consist of iron, stainless steel, and other metals. And although strong, these metals have their vulnerabilities, which require special treatment to make them resistant to corrosion. Surface preparation is […]

My own company’s experience with blocking odors comes from using products like KILZ to seal smoke odors during insurance renovations, this was a nasty job requiring respirators and ventilation, not something that you wanted to do in an occupied home. We never tried anything that would “remove” the odors, so I was intrigued when Vinnie […]

Not all buildings are created equal… Even though concrete structures have gained lot of popularity over the last decade, masonry and brick facilities still offer a lot of value. A time-tested material, masonry structures are easy to upkeep and maintain, while offering a lasting value and energy efficiency. These structures offer higher protection against fire, […]

The search for the perfect waterborne cabinet paint is over! In the search for a better cabinet grade waterborne finish, my company, JHC, recently started using SW Kem Aqua Plus. Its rare that I get excited about a new coating like this, but I am very pleased with the results we have been getting with this […]

Sneak Peek on Sherwin Williams Emerald Paint Review! I am excited to announce I am preparing a review for a the new Sherwin Williams Emerald paint, which is the flagship coating in their new 0 VOC colorant system. Available in any color at 0 voc’s after tinting. Exterior sheens come in flat, satin and gloss […]

This is a big topic in the residential paint world lately. The fact of the matter is that “self priming” paints are really nothing new. They have just been marketed recently in new and more creative ways. Benjamin Moore Regal, the old stuff of ten years ago, had self priming characteristics, and it said […]

Honestly, I don’t get the whole “no need to use a primer” thing. Our company has done new construction homes for over 20 years and we have never skipped the primer! In fact, my husband Rob is so particular about the prep and prime stages that he will rarely try a new primer, but will […]

I recently had the chance to work with Benjamin Moore’s fairly new ceiling paint 508. Touted as an ultra flat paint specifically formulated for ceilings that hides common ceiling imperfections, it uses the Gennex waterborne colorant system making it a VOC compliant product in all areas. It has longer open times for more work-ability, leading to less laps […]

“What paint should I use in my own home?” Can you explain what the single most important aspect should be in a type of interior paint? Should it be ease of use? How well it covers? Clean ability? Odor? Versatility? Affordable? It is quite difficult to pinpoint exactly what a paint should be, and to […]

Painters have “stuff” As we are heading full force into the exterior season I am sure there are guys (like my husband Rob) who are digging thru toolboxes and finding tools in all sorts of buckets and places they don’t belong! Some guys have a pretty good system of organizing their tools, like Scott showed […]

Reader Reviews

McCauley Tools had modest beginnings. In 2005, while painting their house for the market, Garth and Kim Getchell were pulled into an intriguing conversation with seasoned painting contractor Pat McCauley who demonstrated a rough prototype of a unique painting tool that, at first, simply sparked the interest of the Getchell’s: then, their excitement. Veterans […]

McCauley Tools had modest beginnings. In 2005, while painting their house for the market, Garth and Kim Getchell were pulled into an intriguing conversation with seasoned painting contractor Pat McCauley who demonstrated a rough prototype of a unique painting tool that, at first, simply sparked the interest of the Getchell’s: then, their excitement. Veterans […]

Mark has always had a penchant for inventing. Thinking outside the box has been a blessing (in disguise sometimes)! Haven’t you ever wondered why your cereal bowl didn’t have a built in sugar stirrer? Or why doesn’t every fishing pole come with a fish alarm? Well maybe not but his recent ideas will get your wheels spinning. […]

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.